“College has encouraged me to visit a number of university Open Days, including ones at Cambridge, Edinburgh and Newcastle. I have found these trips to be both helpful and informative. They have made me determined to succeed in my studies and enter higher education.”
Helen Beddow, 18

English Literature

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Entry Requirements

Normal BSFC entry points for an AS programme of study including a Grade C or above in GCSE English Language. It is helpful to have also achieved a grade C or better in GCSE English Literature. 

About the Subject

This is the ideal course if you have enjoyed studying your literature texts at GCSE and want to explore further the rich variety of literature in English. You will read texts from the past and the present, and will study a range of novels, plays and poetry. At AS you study six texts in all, and at A2 another six. Some of these texts are for detailed study; others are ‘wider reading’ texts, which you study in less depth.

The main difference from GCSE is that there is more emphasis on independent reading. Some of the books you study are quite long, and you’ll need to read them in your own time. You’ll also look more closely at the social and historical background of texts, and at how different readers have interpreted texts in different ways. At the same time, you’ll be encouraged to think for yourself and come to independent judgements about the ideas and attitudes in your texts.

The course available in college is AS/A Level: English Literature (AQA Specification B)

AS Year

Unit Name Type of
Assessment		 Date of
Exam		 Weighting
in AS		 Weighting
in A2
Unit 1 Aspects of
Narrative		 Written exam
(2 hrs)		 May 60% 30%
Unit 2 Dramatic
Genres		 Coursework Oct – Feb 40% 20%

A2 Year

Unit Name Type of
Assessment		 Date of
Exam		 Weighting
in A2
Unit 3 Texts and
Genres		 Written exam
(2 hrs)		 June (2nd  year) 30%
Unit 4 Further and
Independent
Reading		 Coursework

Oct – Feb

(2nd year)

 20%

General Information

Aspects of Narrative (AS)

In this exam you answer questions on four books you have studied. It is an ‘open book’ exam, which means you can have the books with you in the exam.

Dramatic Genres (AS)

For this coursework unit you study two plays and write one piece of work on each. The plays will both be examples of tragedy, and one will be by Shakespeare.

Texts and Genres (A2)

You study three books for this A2 exam, and answer two questions. The three books will be linked in some way (for instance, they might all have supernatural elements).

Further and Independent reading

For the A2 coursework you write two assignments, based on the study of two books and an anthology of writing about literature. 

What Next?

Many of our students go on to study English courses at university. English Literature is also relevant to a variety of other university courses, such as Theatre Studies, Media Studies and Languages. If you’re interested in a career n the media, performing arts, teaching or journalism, the course will also help you to develop the skills required in these fields